Took shifter apart, now can't get reverse
 

In an aborted attempt to install a short shifter on my one-year-only 1972 915 4-speed shifter, I disassembled the shifter rod and base, and now that it's back together, I can't get reverse. The shifter will not move to the furthest right plane at all - it's completely blocked (H-pattern, not dog-leg). I've looked at it and compared it to PET diagrams, and the only thing I can think of is that there must be a spacer missing. But for the life of me I don't remember there being one when I disassembled, nor can I find anything like that on my workbench. Pics to illustrate:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1252813691.jpg

In this pic, the right hand side is the front of the car, so top is passenger side. When I move the shift rod to that side, the bottom of it (under the fulcrum) moves to the driver's side. But it's blocked by the plate that sits above the reverse lockout (or in this pic, below it). In other words, the reverse lockout rests in alignment with the edge of the shifter hole. Here's another angle to show it better (same orientation):

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1252813941.jpg

It would seem to me that the plate with the shifter hole should sit flush with the opposite wall than it is now, such that the reverse lockout would protrude over the edge by a couple mm. Thus my thought that there should be a spacer of some sort where the plate sits flush. Does that make any sense?

You may need to rotate your linkage. I had to do that on mine. It can be a little tricky to get the sweet spot. But thats just my experience.

I'm 100% sure it\s not the linkage. I've adjusted the linkage many times in the past, and I know what it feels like when it's not right. This is completely different - the entire right-hand plane is blocked in the shifter housing.

Did you accidently drop any small parts in there, a washer or nut that is keeping it from moving.

Being a new shifter did you open the tunnel and re-adjust the shift coupler?

Sounds like it has to be something simple.

No, I'm sure it's not anything in the tunnel - just holding the base in my hand and moving it about I can see that the 5th/reverse plane is blocked. It's something in the reassembly.

It's not a new shifter - it's all the old stuff. It's definitely not a coupler alignment issue. I've done that several times in the past and am very familiar with it.

There is a little tab that moves to block reverse when shifting 5 to 4, it's on top of the housine, make sure that it didn't get turned, that can block it from going into reverse to.

Do you mean the wing-shaped piece with the 2 small springs in the pics above?

Ok, I've found this picture of a 72 shifter base, and it looks exactly the same as mine:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1196794643.jpg

So it *looks* like I've put everything together properly. Next step is to remove the reverse lockout tab and see if I can get reverse. It's a 4-speed anyway, so the chances of nicking reverse going from 3rd to 4th are very remote. (i.e. no downshifting from 5th to 4th, where the problem usually occurs)

Well, I took it all apart and put it back together again, and it works now. Not really sure why, the only thing I can think of is that maybe the spring with bushings that the slider plate sits on top of and holds the shift rod up was not seated properly, and therefore not allowing the slider plate to slide. BTW, for those who may be lost here, the plate that's spring-loaded (big springs) should slide left and right, which is what you're moving when you move the shift rod over to the 5th/reverse plane, which is why that, and only that, is spring loaded.

Makes you laugh a little, doesn't it.

It would, if I hadn't wasted 4 hours the day before a track day.